AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



water of the sea or salt springs, and is rarely found in com 

 merce perfectly pure ; salts of lime and magnesia being mixed 

 with it. 



Salt is found in nearly all soils ; in the ashes of all plants ; 

 and is necessary for animal life. It has been used in all ages 

 and countries as a manure, and acts not only as a feeder of 

 plants, but chemically -as a solvent, and in this latter regard ap 

 pears to be most efficient. In some soils it strengthens the straw, 

 but it acts variously in different localities. Theoretically, it 

 ought to prove very efficient in our Western States. Mixed 

 with plaster it is said greatly to improve the latter. It must be 

 used with care, and not applied directly to the plants. In dry 

 climates, where seasonable rains seldom fall, salt will rarely do 

 anything but injury. Root crops, and of those, beets, appear to 

 be the most benefitted by salt. From one to ten bushels may 

 be applied to the acre, sown broadcast and harrowed in, a few 

 days before the seed is sown. In New York, three bushels to 

 the acre have been found effective in destroying grubs, cut 

 worms, &amp;lt;fec. 



7 07. MUD, MUCK. This substance is found in great abun 

 dance in many ponds, marshes, &c., and in some localities it 

 has been applied with great success as a manure. It necessarily 

 varies much in its composition. Mr. Dana analyzed two speci 

 mens in Massachusetts, and he found them to consist of: 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Soluble Geine, ) n 5.10 810 



Insoluble Geine, [ Ur S anic - 8 . 90 6 . 50 



Salts and Silicates, 86. 84.40 



A cord of No. 1 weighed when dug 61 17 Ibs., and contained 

 solid matter, 3495 Ibs.; composed of geine, 405 Ibs.; of sili 

 cates and salts, 3005 Ibs. The salts of lime were 2 per cent. ; 

 from which we judge that it would prove a vaulable manure. 



Prof. Johnston examined a black mud from Leith Docks, 



